Deceased
Francis Joseph NEWBY
Demographics
52y, male
Date of death
1978-04-01
Finding date
2019-09-05
Cause of death
drowning
AI-generated summary
Francis Joseph Newby, a 52-year-old fishing vessel skipper with significant pre-existing health conditions including tuberculosis with lung fibrosis (effectively single lung), was swept overboard from the fishing vessel Lucca during Cyclone Alby on 1 April 1978. He had been clinging to an icebox with a crew member when struck by a large wave. He was coughing up blood after the initial capsize, indicating injury. His compromised respiratory capacity and weakened state prevented him from surviving the second immersion. The coroner found death by drowning/misadventure. Key clinical lesson: awareness of how pre-existing conditions substantially diminish survival prospects in maritime emergencies; the patient's tuberculosis with fibrosis left him with critically reduced respiratory reserve.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
21y · Male·Drowning
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45y · Male·Drowning
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31y · Male·drowning
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Source and disclaimer
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